Integration to the Desktop

The integration with widely used Microsoft desktop technologies gives the vendor an advantage in competing with rivals like Salesforce.com Inc. for ERP business in midsize companies and in small divisions of large companies, said Judy Sweeney, an analyst at Boston-based AMR Research Inc.

On the other hand, Sweeney expects Microsoft's indirect sales model to hamper its efforts to penetrate large organizations.

"Large companies want Microsoft to put more skin in the game," she said. "They don't want a lot of partner products and support from multiple vendors."

GP 9.0 will offer 21 separate, preconfigured role-based interfaces, said Lynne Stockstad, general manager of Microsoft Dynamics GP. The interfaces will have a Microsoft-style desktop look that's designed to allow end users to perform functions with minimal training. It will include separate interfaces for customer service, operations, finance, human resources and IT roles.